With a 9 p.m. PT deadline looming, the Mariners offered 2008 contracts to left-handers Horacio Ramirez and George Sherrill, but not to lefty reliever John Parrish, and minutes before the deadline, traded first baseman Ben Broussard to the Rangers for middle infield prospect Tug Hulett.

Broussard was a valuable bench player last season, finishing with seven pinch-hits, including a grand slam against the Angels in Anaheim. He tied for the American League lead in pinch-hits and batted .275 overall with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.

When given the opportunity in September to play first base every day, Broussard batted .260 with no home runs and three RBIs in 73 at-bats.

He made $3.55 million and would have received a substantial increase via salary arbitration.

Hulett, 24, spent the 2007 season with the Oklahoma RedHawks, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers. He batted .275 (142-for-517) with 31 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 67 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. In four Minor League seasons, Hulett has a .280 career average with 127 extra-base hits and 83 stolen bases. He was selected by Texas in the 14th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Auburn University and is the son of former Major League infielder Tim Hulett.

By Romy Cucjen on 12/14/2007